Northern Ireland cycling great Martyn Irvine has retired from competition and this time it's for keeps.

The former World Track champion from Newtownards had previously quit the sport in January 2016 but returned nine months later and joined Irish Cycling team Aqua Blue Sport as one of their riders.

The 32-year-old admitted he thought long and hard about hanging up his bike again but is staying on in cycling and will act as Directeur Sportif for Aqua Blue Sport from next year.

He will take up his new role having enjoyed a fabulous career. In 2013 he produced the performance of his life in Belarus to win gold for Ireland at the World Track Championships in the Scratch event. A year later he took home silver in the same discipline in the World Championships. Also on Irvine's CV is World Cup gold and a European bronze plus other titles. He is regarded as Northern Ireland's greatest ever male cyclist.

Injuries have hindered him in recent years and now he is relishing a new challenge which will see him use his experience to help his team's current riders.

"I want to thank Aqua Blue Sport and especially Rick Delaney (team owner) for this great opportunity," said Irvine.

"When I broke a bone in my hip again this year I knew I had to take a serious look at where I wanted to go next. I have had a lot of injuries and there comes a point where the body just says no more.

"The Sport Director role is the perfect fit for me and the right decision. It is a huge challenge and I have a huge amount to learn but I am really looking forward to 2018."

Aqua Blue Sport's General Manager Stephen Moore said: "It is always sad to see a great rider retire from competition but Martyn still has a huge amount to give to the sport."